Kelly… Do you know if there are many calories in Bully sticks? – Jean -
I’ve read varying calorie information on Bully Sticks (muscle meat from the Bull’s prized Man Part!), but the typical protein and fat contents of bully sticks are consistently in the following range…PROTEIN: 80-85% and FAT: 1-2%. Further, the general CALORIES in a bully stick are 29 per inch. For a dog, the higher protein and lower fat content makes the bully stick a decent lower calorie treat. However, with any treat you should use moderation to avoid weight gain or constipation/diarrhea when too many are consumed.
Bravo Bully Sticks (Source: www.bravorawdiet.com)
Additionally, most people choose the bully sticks because they are great for keeping a dog interested and generally last a decent amount of time. NOTE: My 52lb dog can consume a 12″ bully stick in about an hour, whereas the very powerful and aggressive chewers can devour a 12″ bully in less than 10 minutes! My Mother’s 5lb Yorkshire Terrier will need a few weeks to finish off her 6″bully stick! It’s truly dependent on the dog as to how long a bully stick will last.
I prefer to give my dog, Gus, the BRAVO USDA Bully Sticks which are sourced in the United States and New Zealand…both trusted sources. Bravo sticks are made from free range, grass fed bulls, not steer parts which makes them noticeably larger (thicker) and longer lasting and they do NOT contain any chemical additives or smoke flavoring. Bravo bullies are dry roasted (not smoked) and they are processed in their USDA inspected plant. And, I can tell you from experience that when it comes to the STENCH of some of the many brands of bully sticks…there is a wide range of stink. Bravo bullies are the least stinky of the brands presumably because they drain the urine from the pizzle during their processing… you can even see the Vise Grip marks on the Bravo bullies!
Finnegan Kishbaugh… Chocolate Labs Need 12″ Bully Sticks
Bully sticks are a great tool for keeping your dog’s teeth clean, gums healthy and strong and also help to reduce stress brought on by boredom. And when comparing bullies to other types of chew treats like marrow bones or pig ears they are much lower in calories and fat. Reliably sourced bully sticks are usually much more expensive then other types of chews, but definitely a good investment for your dog.
Regarding calories for bully sticks… I pulled the following information from www.redbarninc.com… REDBARN Bully Stick: CALORIES – 29 per inch; Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 80% Crude Fat (min) 1% Crude Fiber (max) 1% Crude Ash (max) 2% Moisture (max) 15% Calcium (min) 0.8% Phosphorous (min) 0.4%.
NOTE: You had originally asked the above bully stick calorie question along with a question regarding suggested toys that are suitable for crated dogs that I addressed in a separate post… Just wanted to clarify that I, personally, would not recommend leaving a dog alone in his crate with a bully stick in the event that he swallowed a large piece and began choking. Some people do…I’d rather be ultra safe than super sorry!
It was always so funny to see the reactions from people when I told them what a bully stick actually was… for some reason, men in particular would cringe when they heard a bully stick was from a bull’s prized “southern region!!” 
Thank You! I trust your judgement and knowledge. I just do not think Tritan will like Aunt Kelly’s response, like other things I know he will accept it in time. His safety and well being comes first and foremost. Perhaps its just the smell he likes over the taste or kind.
Hi Kelly, I have a question on Bully Sticks. My Tritan is spoiled and for the longest time I was just throwing out Bully Sticks. Even the Bravos. He just got bored with certain ones after time. Then I found a certain brand that he fell in love with and that is all he wanted. Actually they are Buffalo and they smell horrible. They are also the braided type. On the wrapper they say everything you want: 100%Buffalo Pizzle: 100% Free Range, 100% Natural, No Added Hormones, No Antibiotics and No Preservatives. Recently I learned they are from India. I do not know if they have always been or this was a recent move by company. I always purchased them from the store. My Dog LOVES them. It is India and they are imported. What is your feeling on this? I value and trust your input and I am sure whatever it is Tritan will still love you too.
Hey Michele… Honestly, I’m disappointed that the smelly bully sticks that Tritan prefers are now sourced/processed in India. When I owned my natural pet food store, my policy was always USA sourced and processed foods and treats. Most likely the manufacturer changed their sources/processing plants to another country to reduce costs… That is a Red Flag in and of itself!! There were a few exceptions like New Zealand, Canada, Brazil and a certain cat canned food line processed in a USDA cannery in Thailand. These countries have very similar standards to our USA standards and have proven over time that they can be trusted. Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be said for many other countries like China, Mexico, etc.
Having lived through the horrible Melamine tainted dog food recalls in 2007, I am very particular about what foods or treats I will give any of my pets. I am very proud to say that my store did not have one recalled food in 2007 because I had very high standards with regard to the products that we would stock.
All that said I, personally, would NOT be comfortable giving any of my pets’ products that are sourced or processed in India. Time to look for another favorite treat for Tritan!
Thank you Kelly!! Double Thank you because the research paid off double. I think listening to out pets is crucial. My Tritan has allergies. The Bingo Bullies are Buffalo Pizzle. The Buffalo Pizzle are are actually Beneficial in TWO WAYS!! They are of course an Alternative Protein Source of our Allergy or Hyper Sensitive Dogs. Which I guess he knew he was better for him. I never thought of that. Also Buffalo is 70%-90% LESS FAT than BEEF so if anyone has a dog that needs to be on a LOW FAT DIET they should seek out the the Buffalo Pizzle. They do say they are more “Gamey” but Buffalo themselves are more “Gamey” than Beef Cow. I did Find Canine Caviar Buffalo Pizzle 12″ for $4.50 and they are USA sourced!! Free range, Grass Fed, No Hormones, Antibiotic Free. So if anyone out there as an Allergy Dog like me or a dog that needs a low fat diet there so an option. Thank you again Kelly for you help!!
Hi Kelly,
Are you familiar with Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM, the “Internet Vet” from Canada? He sells a nutritional supplement, and I would be very interested in getting your opinion on it. Here are the links to the products: www.thedogsupplement.com and www.thecatsupplement.com. Thanks!
Sue